Kenyan youth, particularly Gen Zs, have held nationwide protests, voicing their concerns over various critical issues affecting the country.

Recent weeks have seen the country’s vibrant youth come out in solidarity in what they term a “leaderless, party less and tribeless” movement.

Armed with placards and driven by the determination to see change in the nation, the youth marched on chanting “Ruto Must Go!!”

Surprisingly, a recent poll conducted by TIFA Research suggests that only 12% of Gen-Z protesters want the resignation of President William Ruto.

According to the poll, the top demand that garnered the most support from the youth is cutting down on government spending (austerity measures), with 25% of respondents backing this call.

“The widespread support for austerity measures among Kenyans indicates a shared concern over government expenditure and economic management,” says the report. 

Other Popular Gen Z demands

Other popular demands include the issue of youth unemployment, with 21% of youth citing it as a reason why they were engaged in the protests.

Similarly, 18% of them expressed their desire for the government to address the contentious issue of the rising cost of living.

TIFA noted that 14 % of respondents wanted the government to intensify its war on corruption, thereby safeguarding public resources.

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Additionally, the poll findings revealed that 9 % of Gen Z demonstrators wanted the investigation of police officers who shot and killed protesters during the protests.

The poll also showed that 8 % of the demographic were advocating for the hiring of intern doctors.

Reasearch also showed that only 7 % of Gen Z were demanding the audit of public debt, withdrawal of the 2024 Finance Bill and the dismissal of Cabinet Secretaries from office.

Furthermore, only 6 % of respondents demanded the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

It was also established that only 4 per cent of youth were demanding the reduction of taxes as well as accountability from government officials.

Support for the Protests Led by the Gen Zs

On the general perception of the Gen Z-led protests, TIFA reported that a majority of Kenyans were in support of the movement.

Research found that 81 per cent of respondents support the Gen-Z movement, with the support higher among Kenyans aged between 18 and 34 who accounted for 83%.

Also Read: Reasons 63% of Kenyans Believe Country is Headed in the Wrong Direction

Older respondents aged 35 years and above had a slightly lower support (80%) compared to their counterparts; however, they still expressed their support the youth movement.

When it comes to regions, the support was highest in Nairobi (90%), Nyanza came in second (89%) followed by the Central region (88%) 

Notably, the Rift Valley recorded the lowest support for the movement with only 73%.

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